Means for preventing vibration of printing-press cylinders



H'. A wi'jwoon. MEANS FOR PREVENTING V IB=RATION 0F;PRINTING PRESS -GYLINDER8.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIL'HHB.

Patented May 30, 1922.

JE/g A We 75%;

UNITED STATES PATENT orr cs.

HENRY A. 'wIsE woon, OP- NEw YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR T0 woon' NEWSPAPERMACHINERY CORPORATION, OP NEw YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING VIBRATION OF PRINTING-PRESS OYnINnERs.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M 30 1922 Application filedJuly 17, 1918. Serial No. 245,344;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. .lVI'sE VVOOD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork. have invented a new and useful Means for Preventing Vibration ofPrinting-Press Cylinders, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to the prevention of glittering when printing athigh speed on a rotary )rinting press. This is caused by the fact thatwhen the margin between two plates is being passed, the cylinders arerelieved of pressure for a moment. Therefore they spring and theimpression cylinder strikes heavily upon, the heads of an oncomingseries of plates on the other cylinder, provided the plates arearrangedsymmetrically along the cylinder. The vibration caused by this actionproduces dark and light bands .on the rinting, sometimes embosses theprinting, and even fractures the web occasionally.

Provisions have been made heretofore to offset this difficulty, but suchmeans as I am familiar with are not suflicient when operating at veryhigh speeds, that is speeds above the maximum now employed practicallyin newspaper printing plants.

It is the objectof. this invention to prevent thisguttering at allspeeds and to do it inv a simple and inexpensive manner. These objects Isecure by positively preventing the printing cylinders fromspringingtoward each" other when the margins pass, as Wlll appear, or away fromeach other.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l isa sectional view through the journals of a printing couple illustratingone way in which theinvention can be carried out, and showing apreferred embodiment of the mechanism therefor, and

Fig. 2 is a view of a printing plate cylinder showing the plates thereonm'their usual position. I

. \Vhen the. plates along the length of the plate cylinder are set inaxial line, all their margins correspond; Thus twice in the revolutionof such a cylinder it will be relieved of all printing strain, when itpassesover the margin from one set of plates to another.

' This relieffrom strain causes damage to the printing at high speeds,owing to the fact that the impression cylinder, when suddenly relievedfrom strain, springs into the margin and strikes heavily upon the headsof the oncoming series of plates. This throws the cylinder out and setsup a vibration in the cylinder, which does not settle down until thecylinder has traveled several inches from the margin. This vibrationshows upon the prints in light and dark bands, varymg in. color with theweight ofthe blow which the cylinder delivers to the printing, due toits vibration.

Press builders have resorted to the practice of staggering their platemargins. This consists in moving the plates atone side of the pressalittle forward or back of the position of the plates at the other sideof the press, so that the axial margins shall-not run continuously thefull length of the cylinder.

Thus. when the margin at one end of a cylinder is passing the impressionpoint, the other end of the cylinder is under the strain of printing,and so the cylinderis less apt to spring into the margin and set up avibration.

But as still higer speeds are approached, higher than those which arenow usually used, it-has been found that staggered plates are not aremedy; that the c linder will nevertheless spring into a margin, evenif it be only half-length, and set up a vibration. Also, the fact thatwhen a half-width web is run the cylinder is not prevented from droppinginto the margin by any support-- ing plates, further intensifies thedifliculty.

These two facts prevented obtaining acceptable printing at much abovethe ordinary speeds of today, until I discovered this 7 method whereby Ican prevent the cylinders from springing into the margins at all.

I have observed that a little Wear in the .boxescauses the guttering.When it is perceived that a sheet of newspaper is but 3/1000 of an inchthick, it is apparent thatonly a few thousandths of an inch oflostmotion occurring in a cylinder bearing will permit the type to buryitself into the sheet,

to the extent of embossing it, and sometimes 50 13 passes.

solution of the problem lies, not in taking up the lost motion of a boxwhich is an extremely difficult matter to do with ac curacy, but inpositively holding the cylin- 5 der journal constantly in contact withthe work-side of its box, so that whatever lost motion there may be atthe other side of the run at my full speed a half-width web, and

print it as cleanly as a full-width web.

Referring now to the drawings. it, will be seen that I have shown theinvent-ion as applied to a rotary printing press having an impressioncylinder 10 and a plate cylinder 11. On the latter cylinder the plates12 are shown as arranged in the old way, namely,

with their heads in alignment so that" there is a. longitudinal gutter1.3 at the margins thereof. It will be understood, however, that theplates can be staggered as mentioned above, if desired, withoutdeparting from this invention.

The twojournals 14 of the respective cylinders are supported by theframe in semi cylindrical bearings 15. The upper half bearing, insteadof being formed in a single piece,'is formed of two parts, both of acurved wedge shape; the inner one 16 constituting a bearing proper andproviding a circular wedge-shaped shoe; and the outer one 17 acting as atakeup shoe. The takeup shoe 17 is provided. with a rack 18 on itssurface in each case, and these four racks are operated by screws 19 and20 respectively designed to turn the shoe for the purpose of keeping thejournal against the working side of the bearing. -It is to be noted'thatthe upper half 16 of the journal box, constituting the bearing for thetop of the journal; holds the journal in each case away from the otherprinting cylinder. *This is for the purpose ofpreventing the cylindersspringing together when the margin The wedge 17 is of course adjusted byits screw so as to hold the bearing, member 16 in-such position. thatthe journal will bear at all times against the working surface of thebearing 15, and as the wear in these journal boxes'develops at thepointsv 21 the upper bearing members 16 will be adjusted rearwardly bythe action of the wedge 17 so as to follow up the journa'ls. In thisway, wherever the wear may be, it will not show itself in the form of arebound of the cylinder during the passage of 'the margin.

The points 21 above mentioned are located at the ends of two arrows onthe drawings, which are intended to represent the direction of theresultant of two forces, cylinder gravity and printing pressure. It isnot intended here that any definite angle should be stated for thisdirection, but it is obvious that if the cylinders were run without anyimpression the pressure on the journal box would be downwardly and theconsequent wear would be. at the bottom. The printing pressure taken byitself, however, is exerted horizontally so that the wear from thatwould be at the rear side of the journal box. Assuming that the printingpressure with a full set of plates is about equal to the weight ofasolid cylinder, the resultant direction of pressure would be aboutforty-five degrees outwardly. from the lower center line, as indicatedby these straight arrows. Therefore, the wedge-shaped bearing member 16is designed to hold the jour nal over against the portion of the boxmarked 21. It is to be noted also that as the wear develops at the point21. the wedgeshaped bearing 16--.will compel the cylinder journal tofollow it up. Therefore the lost motion resulting from the wear willnever be found at the point 21, but at an opposite point onthe lowerside of the journal box,

as indicated at 22 where the clearance is shown. A large amount of wearat this point will not interfere with the proper operation of themachine because the upper member '16 is pushed over by the wedge 17 thatboth of them should be constructed in this way for securing the bestresults. It

is apparent, however. that as the wear increases each' cylinder will bepressed fur-' ther away from its companion cylinder. This must beremedied, which is provided for by adjusting one of'the bearings as awhole toward its companion cylinder. Only one of them need besoadjusted.

For this purpose an impression mechanism is provided in the form of aneccentric box 25'located in a cylindrical cavity in the side frame 26and carrying the whole system on one side of the press. As this box 25is eccentric. it can be adjusted by a screw 27 meshing with a rack 28projecting from its side or bottom. In this way, one of the boxes isadjusted as a whole toward the other. to compensate for the adjustmentsin the opposite direction produced by operating the screws 19 and 20.The screw 27 and the screw 19 are mounted in the frame of the machine,but the screw 20 is attached to and carried by the box 25 and moves withit, of course. In order to provide accessto the screw 20, an opening ismade inthe top of the side frame 26.

- its principles are so simple that it can be I have found in practice,as stated above, that by thus holding the two elements of the couplepositively at the same distance apart during the time they pass themargins and during the true printing operation, that is, at the times ofminimum and maximum strain, I absolutely prevent 'the springing of thecylinders toward and from. eachother, and thus prevent vibration andglittering.

This is particularly important in attaining speeds higher than those nowin common use, and in fact permits of a ver great speeding up of thepresses of today. Yet the mechanism, as shown; is comparatively simple.sult is not limited to this mechanismfbut attained in other mechanicalways Without departing from the-scope of this invention a as set forthin the claims.

Therefore .I do not wish to belim'ited in these respects, but what I doclaim is- 1. In a rotary printing press, the combinationwith theprinting couple, of means for maintaining the centers of the printingcouple continuously at the same distance apart in its bearings away fromthe other member of the couple and holding the journals firmly againstthe sides of its bearings throughout its entire revolution forpreventing vibration and guttering due to the wear on the bearing,Surfaces.

3. In a rotary printing press, the combination with one member of theprinting couple having bearings. and journals for said bearings, ofmeans for forcing said member over in its bearings away from the othermember of the couple and holding the journals firmly against the sidesof its bearings throughout its, entire revolution for preventingvibration and guttering due to the wear on the bearing surfaces, andmeans for adjusting the bearing surfaces to vary the distance betweenthe members of the couple to compensate for the motion of said memberwhen the journals have worn. a 4. In a rotary printing press,thecombination with one of the cylinders of a printing; couple, of meansfor maintaining said cylinder in one'definite position throughout its rotationindependently of the pressure to which any point on itscircumference is subjected, said means being adjustable to take up wear.51 In a rotary printing press, the combination with one of the cylindersof'a printing couple, of adjustable meansefor forcing the The method ofaccomplishing the re-' journal of said cylinder backwardly away fromtheother cylinder to maintain said cylinder in one definite positionthroughout its .rotation independently of the pressure to which it issubjected, said means being also adjustable to maintain firm contact onboth sides of'the journal after the bearing is worn.

6. In a rotary printing press, the combination with a pri ting coupleconsisting of impression and pl of boxes for said journals, and meanscooperating. with said boxes for forcing said cylin- (leis against theworking sides of their boxes which receive the wear' and holding thempositively in that position to prevent their springing toward eachother, I

7. In a rotary printing press, the combination with a printing, cylinderhaving journals, of boxes for said journals, each of s'aid ate cylindershaving journals,

boxes comprising a semi-cylindrical lower bearing member forsupportlngthe bottom of its journal, an upper bearing -member for engaging andsteadying the top of said journal, and means for adjusting theuppermember laterally.

8. In a rotary printing press, the combination with a printing cylinderhaving journals, of boxes for said journals, each of said boxescomprising a semi-cylindrical bearing member for engaging one side ofits journal.

an opposite bearing member for engaging and steadying the other sideofsaid journal,

and means for adjusting one member in a' radial direction along thebearing member. 9. In a rotary printing press, the comedge of the otherbination with a printing cylinder having.

journals, of boxes for said journals, one of said boxes comprising asemi-cylindrical lower member'for supporting the bottom of its journal,an upper-member of semi-cylindrical wedge shape, and a similarly shapedbut oppositely located wedge.

10. In a rotary printingpress, the combination with a printing cylinderhaving journals, of boxes for said journal? one of said boxes comprising-a semi-cy indrical. lower member for supporting the bottom of itsjournal, an upper member of semi-cylindrical wedge shape and a similarlyshaped but oppositely located wedge, and means for moving the wedgecircumferentiall to take up any wear and keep the journa agalnst therear or wearing face of the lower half 'of the box.

11, 'In a rotary printlng press, the combination with one ofthecylinders of a print ing couple having a journal, of a box forsaidjournal comprising two half members, one movable independently ofthe other in a lateral direction, the movable half having an eccentriccylindrical outer surface; a semi-circular wedge fitting said outersurface and having a rack on the'outer circumference thereof, and anadjusting screw for Operating the rack and adjusting said half of thebox to positively keep the journal in contact with one surface of theother half of the box and prevent vibration.

12. In a rotary printing press, the combination with .one of thecylinders of a printing couple having a journal, of a box for saidjournal comprising a lower half for receiving the journal and an upperhalf movable independently of the lower half in a lateral direction, theupper half having an eccentric cylindrical outer surface, semicircularwedge fitting said outer surface and fitting the interior of the outerbox and having a rack on the outer. circumference thereof, an adjustingscrew for operating the rack and adjusting the upper half of the box, anouter box for receiving the two semicylindrical members and having aneccentric vOuter surface and an inner surface concentric with thejournal, means for supporting the outer box, and meansfor swinging saidouter box in its support to move the journal bodily in a lateraldirection.

13. In a rotary printing press, the combination with 'one of thecylinders of a rinting couple having a journal, of an outer.

ox haying an eccentric outer surface and an inner surface concentricwith the journal, a lower half bearing member for receiving the journaland an upper half bearing member movable independently of the lower halfin a lateral direction, both located in said box, the upper half havingan eccentric cylinderical outer surface, a semi-circular wedge fittingsaid outer surface and fitting the interior of the box and having a rackon the outer circumferencethereof, an adjusting screw for operating therack and adjusting the upper half of the box, means for supporting theouter box, and means for swinging said outer box in its support to movethe journal bodily in a lateral direction opposite to that in which thejournal is moved by said wedge.

14. In a rotary printing press, the combination with a printing coupleconsisting of impression ,and plate cylinders having journals, of boxesfor said journals, means tive of the pressure to which any point onthe;circumference of the cylinder is subjected.

In testimony whereof I afiixed' my signature.

HENRY A. WISE Wooo.

have hereunto-

